Telegram-herald., 1887-11-27
W | CK { D !.
A Disastrous COnfla-
grafton.
Nelson & Matters Establish
ment Destroyed.
Several Other Neighboring
Buildings Gatted.
A Loss Aggregatipg Nearly
Half a Million.
One Man Probably Fatally In
iured Dy Failing Timbers.
Three Others Suffer Serious
but Not Fatal Injuries.
About l25 Men Temporarily
Out of Work.
The Firm Will Rent and Con-
tinue Manufacturing.
The Factory Proper Escapes
Serious Damage.
Three Others Suffer Serious
but Not Fatal Injuries.
About l25 Men Temporarily
Out of Work.
The Firm Will Rent and Con-
tinue Manufacturing.
The Factory Proper Escapes
Serious Damage.
The Fourth National Bank has
a Narrow Escape.

At 2 o'clock this morning direful scene
was en- acted in the center of Grand Rapids.
Lighting the heavens. the roofs and sides Of
the tall buildings and shining on the shall
low river the swesome flames were swsl-
lowing up the immense sslesroom and fur
niture factory of Nelson. Matter & Co.
Hurrying along the streets under umbrel-
las in the drizzing rain was a mostly
crowd. Prominent business men, printers
and others whose busineIs keeps them
up nights were coolly surveying the
situation. Mingled with these were
women and children in half dress and
strange sight--mssqueraders in costume
just from some dance hali-were watching
the firemen fighting the fearful fire.
1t was a wicked sight. Thousands OF
dollars worth of the finest finished furni-
ture was being rapidly destroyed.
At l:52 the alarm was struck and throu gh
the large front windows of the TELEGRAN-
HERALD offices the blaze almost immediate
ly shone into the editorial rooms.
reporter Immediately ran TO the scene,
where engine No. almost instantly ar
rived. The flames had then burst out of
the fourth story of the eastern building Of
Nelson, Matter & Co.'s establishment The
| first two floors of this building are occupied
by the salesroom, office and stock room of
the institution. The floors above are used
| for finishing purposes. The upper floors in
| the four story building on Huron-st. are
| also used for this purpose. The two
| FIRST floors are used for packing
and shipping purposes. The flames gained
headway with astonishing rapidity, though
| there was not strong wind blowing, the
| fearful red fangs OF confagrstion burst out
| of the windows and then shot high into
the air. In fact the two upper floors and
even the basement seemed to be one solid
mass OF flame. The firemen worked des-
| perately, yes heroicslly, for as they scaled
| their ladders against the western wall they
| were in imminent peril
The main attack on the fire wa. made
| from the alley which extends from Lyon
| st. TO Huron-st.
| Fifteen streams were turned upon the
| building, but they did not seem to have any
| effect spon the fierce flames, which
steadily crept downward, taking posses
| the second story. Gradually the fire
| descended in its work OF destruction
| until it reached the magnificent salesroom
and Office on the FIRST floor. La few
| minutes the building would be a mass of
ruins. The attention of the fremen
was now directed to checking tho spread of
the flames. The direction of the flames was
| eastward. At the same time an effort was
| made to lessen the intense flames.
| As the fire gutted the first story the
floors above fell with terrible crash.
| For moment there was scene
| of havoc. IS the noise of the
| crumblins floors died awsy-the din and
roar OF the flames seemed more ferrous.
| The interior of the four walls was possess
Ell with one mammoth sheet OF fame
IL was an exciting scene. Along
Lyon-st. and Csnsl-st. an immense
| crowd Of spectators had congregated. II
was silent tbrong. There they stood in
the pouring rain, watching with eager in
teFsst the destruction Of thousands and
| thousands Of dollars worth Of property.
The MISSED efforts Of the Grand Rapid,
Fire Department seemed poverless 10
| prevent the march Of the fire fiend
new danger soon beset the frernsn.
| The walls commenced to rrnmble. Their
| lives were in dsngsr. Amidst the roar Of
the flames came terrific crash. A portion
of the west wall had fell over into tie
alley. Then there was hum and an sr-
| precision Of anxiety among The assembled
| spectators There wsrs q Dozen frernsn
! sanding thers moment sEo. Where fksY
stood ves 81 immenss pile q debris Were
they ssfs' One les. two brave men as
dead sad Ramor. soon came The 5o7fsl
news that fhsv were e. safe. r. II nairacu.
Ioas fhst Do one vas hurt. For the t.nlf
thev hsd 70 avoid ths "a ling val car b DE-
scribsd - only sn instant The ether IA,
vrnfa soon crash snd crssh into the s're,4
h.l-w. San tas frra0sn vorFs1 GA
cautiously 5ut apparently undzanted in
TIE presence = danger. Incssssutiy p9arel
/ t-a streams froa Dozen O. more noaz -
+ Tro lines ~ hoes vsrs ne~ g.sosi on go
r.of 81 tns FAC orr binding snd from
thls ta~Y pisIsa into The hrs
rf-aE-sEe frs Eeraes vsrished sns
n,r-s ~Yss Eor se- tas fs.fss - asogf fE
.zfss the1r work 81 sss.r ra1tl67. Is vas
1 nsw consssasss tas stoex a tas bssess1k